All the Colors of the Dark is a story about Saint and Patch, two outcast kids who befriend one another. It begins in 1975 and sweeps decades, weaving an epic tale of love, loyalty, murder and tragedy. When I tell you this story shattered me, know that there is no exaggeration. I was urging the story in different directions in my mind, trying to will Whitaker to do what I wanted him to do with each of the characters but he knew what he was doing when he was tearing my heart out through this entire story! There is hope in the pages and I ended the novel wiping satisfied tears. Chris Whitaker's previous novel, "We Begin at the End" was good. The young female protagonist in that one was good. This novel is miles better. These characters are leagues deeper. Do not let the size of this book deter you. Read it slowly. Take time with the story. Live Saint and Patch's lives with them. Amazing work! #AlltheColorsoftheDark #NetGalley #ChrisWhitaker

Chris Whitaker delivers yet another amazing, genre-bending literary masterpiece!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a digital copy of this book.

We Begin at the End was one of my very favorite books of 2021. It was one of the two best crime fiction novels I had ever read, alongside Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby. A third is now joining their ranks. All the Colors of the Dark is an absolutely brilliant example of crime fiction. It’s heavy and hard and heartbreaking, but it ends on such a strong, vibrant note of hope that it makes the darkness of the journey feel worth it.

“I just wanted to show you that sometimes things survive despite the harshest of odds.”

I can’t say anything about the plot of this book without giving something away. So instead, I’ll talk about the elements of this book that made it such a profound reading experience for me. Let’s start with the foundation: the craftsmanship. Whitaker’s style and voice are incredibly unique. He has such an odd way with words; it compels you to read slowly so that you can fully grasp what’s being stated, while also being incredibly propulsive, even in the quietest of moments. The plotting and pacing were also very unique. I could never guess where the story was going next. The trajectory was wholly unpredictable, which made it feel true to life. Most stories have some kind of recognizable framework to them, but I never felt that presence in this book. Instead, it felt unusually organic for a novel.

“Memories lie in people, not places and things.”

Then there are the characters. My heart ached for Saint, and Patch, and characters on the periphery. This was almost too heartbreaking to read in places. I found myself putting it down often, because while I needed to know what happened next, I didn’t want to see the characters suffer any more. Nix and Sammy, Tooms and Grace, Misty and Jimmy, Norma and Charlotte, were all well fleshed out and very interesting. They felt real, but nowhere near as real as Saint and Patch. I fell in love with these two friends, and my heart broke over everything they went through.

“To love and be loved is more than can ever be expected, more than enough for a thousand ordinary lifetimes.”

The setting was also well drawn, if secondary to the characters, and the passage of time felt believable. This book spans decades, from 1975 to 2001. A story covering that much time runs the risk of feeling either rushed or plodding, either of which throws off the believability of the tale being spun. Not at all the case here. Each jump forward in time also made sense, and didn’t leave me feeling like I had missed any steps. He also did a great job weaving in subtle religious and societal commentary without coming across as preachy, or detracting at all from the story.

“God is a first call and a last resort, from christening to death bed. In between is where faith is tested. The mundanity. Anyone can drop to their knees when they’re facing crisis, but doing it when everything is steady…”

“God started the fire. And now He wants the credit for putting it out.”

Art played a large part in this book, as did obsession. We saw how art can be a refuge, or it can fuel the flames of whatever obsession is running your life. This presentation of art, specifically painting and photography, lent even more meaning to the title. I don’t often comment on titles in my book reviews, but I found this one evocative, and layered with meaning. It really added something to the book, in my opinion. Not all titles do.

“Can’t you see how beautiful you make tragedy?”

Whitaker shows us how trauma can force maturity, or it can break you. Sometimes, it does both. His characters long desperately for a return to life and relationships that are nothing but ash, with no hope of reclamation. Survival doesn’t always mean a return to normalcy. In fact, that return is rarely the case. He also shows us how love can leave you broken in a multitude of ways, how it can twist devotion into obsession, even when the heart behind it is pure. Some such obsessions are even noble, though that makes them no less destructive.

“Okay is the preserve of the uninspired… I’d rather live and die at the extremes than exist in the middle.”

Something I really love about crime fiction versus procedurals is the focus on fallout. Procedurals are all about solving a case, about bringing the guilty party to justice. While that is the hopeful endgame of crime fiction, that is not the focus. We are instead plunged into the aftermath, as we are shown how a singular crime effects an individual, a relationship, a town. Those ripple effects, and how they continue expressing themselves months or years or decades after the fact, are what set crime fiction apart.

“Saint wanted to ask what it was like, to lose the thing that defined you. But perhaps she knew: it left you someone else. A stranger you and no choice but to tolerate, and see each day and feel and fear.”

I was stunned by All the Colors of the Dark. I am completely in awe of the craftsmanship, and I will be thinking about the characters and their journey, and the ending Whitaker gave them, for a long time to come. This is a book that I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to bring myself to reread, but it’s absolutely a book that I will be getting a physical copy of someday. Powerful stories will always have a home on my shelves, and this is every bit as powerful as We Begin at the End and Razorblade Tears, if not more so. What a story.

I read an ARC of this novel thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing.

I saw so many raving reviews about this novel and was very hopeful. However this novel fell a bit flat for me. The length of this novel alone was a bit to handle as it was 600 plus pages.

The premise of this book is great and in parts I was very intrigued and interested however there were quite a few parts that I was bored with, and found myself skimming. I enjoyed the ending of the novel but felt like the book could have been shortened.

This will definitely be a book that is raved about as it is good! I just personally wish I had been a bit more engaged in it.

An absolutely stunning tour de force.

When books try to court more than one genre, they often don‘t get any of them right. Not in this case. „All the Colors of the Dark“ is as much a whodunnit / serial killer mystery / police procedural as it is a coming-of-age story, though at its heart, all these elements are comprised into a magnificent work of literary fiction.

In a breathtaking arch spanning decades from 1975 to 2001, the author - following his 2021 triumph „We Begin at the End“ - once again places a feisty and fiercely loyal girl at the center of his story. Thirteen-year-old beekeeper Saint and her best friend, one-eyed „pirate“ Joseph / „Patch“, are the two most central protagonists of the story, and to say much more of the plot - beyond the fact that one act of bravery will change both of their lives irrevocably - would be giving too much away.

This is a book you should read without knowing too much about it, allowing the reader to revel in the beauty of the language despite the often harsh, brutal, and heartbreaking things depicted within; it is an ode to the resilience of the human spirit and the light of hope that propels us forward and out of even the darkest of places.

Stunning, shattering, hopeful, and devastating, „All the Colors of the Dark“ is a magnificent tour de force and an absolute must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„All the Colors of the Dark“ is slated to be released on June 25, 2024.

I loved this book! The characters and the story will stay with me for years to come. This is a long book, but it's well paced throughout so it didn't take long to read. I highly recommend this book, it should be on the top 10 must reads for 2024!

This one gets all the stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️……

“You get out of here and you don’t look back. Never. You promise me you make it out and leave all this behind you.”
These are the words Grace spoke to Patch, while they lived trapped in a dark room for over 300 days. Patch spent the rest of his life looking for Grace. He failed her most important ask, and failing ruined his life and the lives of so many others.

Chris Whitaker is a master storyteller. It’s impossible to describe the depth of this story. The characters are soooo well developed that you feel like you have known them your whole life. There are good ones, great ones, bad ones and horrific ones. The ending of the story is what you always look for in a book. Nothing left to the imaginations everything comes together perfectly, leaving you crying.

All The Colors of the Dark will no doubt be my favorite read of 2024 and one of the top five of all time. We Begin at the End is another epic book by Whitaker.

Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book will be out June 25. Move it to the top of your to be read list.

Absolutely stunning-if you read one book this year make it this one! I could not put it down and when I had to because you know... life...I could not wait to pick it back up. Patch and Saint may be two of the most memorable characters I have ever had the pleasure to know. Even though the subject matter is dark they brought the light. The entire cast of characters are so rich and so real and so damned lovable. The writing is glorious, the plot so complex and revealed so masterfully-at over 600 pages I was still not ready to let go of the pirate boy and the beekeeper.

This is a very complex novel! While I found it masterfully written, it is too long to consistently keep me engaged in such a very dark plot. At times, I found myself skimming to look for any uplifting tidbits to keep me reading. Finding none, I would put it down for days at a time before trying once again to read it. I am not sorry that I read it, but I did not enjoy it as much as We Begin at the End. So, 3.5 stars rounded up. I will certainly be exploring any new novels that Chris Whitaker writes in the future. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am never going to get over this book. I loved it so, so very much and I cannot wait to sell it. This is a beautiful story of friendship, found family, community, and strength. Though the mystery is what drives the plot forward, there is SO much here that makes this book incredible. This is my top read of the year, without question.

Let me begin by saying, I love long books and I get hooked when I see the word “epic” in reviews. This novel is indeed epic, but the writing is so “overwrought” and confusing at times that 600 pages is just too long. By the end, this reader was so weary of all the twists and turns, I just wanted it to be over. The characters are really interesting and powerful but the complex plot overshadows their depth. Perhaps better editing? I loved We Begin at the End but this one falls short.

This book has a lot of depth to it and will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. Whitaker definitely likes a strong female lead - the character in this book had similar traits to the lead in his previous title We Begin at the End. I highly recommend this book and will reread it for sure!

I cannot say how much I loved this with the words this masterpiece deserves. I cannot paint the picture in the dark of these incredible.characters. I am wordless, wiping tears, and smiling . This book is a gift to all.of humanity.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Best book of 2024 by far. Epic. Characters that will stay with you long after the last pages. Coming of age, mystery/thriller, friendship. Chris Whitaker is a must read author. His last book We Begin at the End was outstanding. This was even better. Despite the book length, the chapters were shot and you won’t want to put this one down.

This book earned five full stars from me and one of the top books of the year. The story begins with two teenage characters, Patch and Saint and their involvement with a serial killer. The novel spans the decades and shows the true power of trust, friendship, love, loss and hope. I loved Whitaker’s style of storytelling and the picture he painted with words in this novel. I will be thinking of this book for a long time.

A complementary copy was provided by publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this book. I chose it because I had heard positive reviews and I have never read Chris Whitaker before.

This book is about a serial killer, and I would never have chosen it for its premise. 😬 , but this book is also about so much more. I fell in love with Patch. I fell in love with Saint. I loved so many other characters throughout the book. At times it reminded me of “Peace like a River” by Leif Enger, one of my favorites (but add serial killers and some suspenseful mystery). The ending brought everything together so beautifully , but not in a slapped together thriller sort of way.

4 starts because holy cow, this book was so long- could’ve gotten rid of 200 pages.

Just to start this book is incredibly well written. It weaves together two unforgettable characters with a supporting cast that fit just right. It’s one of those books that will stay with you for a long time, that’s how good it is. It took me a little bit to get into but then once I figured out how all of the characters fit together I was hooked and finished over 600 pages in 2 days. This book was equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. This is storytelling at its absolute best and I can’t recommend it enough!

This was my first book by this author and now I am very excited to read his backlist! This book might be my favorite of the year, I know it is my favorite I have read so far. This is the kind of book I wish we had a special rating for (5+ stars).

I love books that span lifetimes and really go deep into character development and this one did it so well! It spans 25 years and follows the friendship of Patch and Saint. It is a mix of genres with literary fiction intertwined with a mystery that keeps you reading.

This book written so beautifully. Although it was 600 pages it felt like a quick read- I would think about it when I wasn’t reading. The chapters were super short as well so I kept thinking I’d read one more but struggled to actually put it down.

The end was perfection and I almost cried (I am not a crier so if you are, get the tissues ready). Just read this book- you won’t regret it!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll never be able to fluently express how meaningful this book was for me. I don't have the words, and, actually, I’m not worthy to have read it. I’m unsure how I’m expected to read another book after reading this one and feel sorrow for the books that follow it! 

After I finished reading, I had to email the author because I knew it would be impossible to get on with my life if I didn’t discuss it with someone. I never did that before, but after living in this beautifully heartbreaking yet hopeful literary space for a while, I knew I had no choice.  

Chris Whitaker's All the Colors of the Dark is a literary masterpiece that defies genre classification. It blends elements of historical fiction, thriller, mystery, romance, and police procedural into an emotionally resonant and profoundly moving narrative. This book has left an indelible mark on me, and I can confidently say it is my favorite book of all time.

I think the only thing you should know about the book’s premise is it centers around trauma after a horrific crime, yet it is the themes of love, hope, and redemption that stand out. This message of healing and hope amidst tragedy and trauma resonated deeply with me, but I am lucky enough to not have triggers. Those who do should seek them out before reading, and those are the only people who should steer clear of this book! Everyone else has to read it. Do not be afraid of the length. This chunker is 600+ pages but is worth the time. The chapters are short (many are 1-2 pages), but this is a moot point as you won’t be able to stop reading! 

The story spans several decades beginning in the 1970s and follows characters to whom I feel loyally indebted. I think about these people as if I know them. I worry about them. Whitaker’s ability to craft such deeply human characters drew me in immediately. I found myself obsessively invested in their journeys, which wasn’t surprising because I felt the same way about Duchess from We Begin at the End, a character whose resilience and complexity stayed with me long after I finished that book. Saint and Patch from this book will do the same. There are also intergenerational relationships that are especially poignant. Having been raised by my grandparents, I always find these bonds heartwarming and relatable, adding another layer of emotional depth to the story.

Whitaker's prose is breathtakingly beautiful, with lines that I found myself wanting to highlight and revisit, so I took screenshots of my iPad. Another thing I’ve never done! Two quotes that particularly struck me are: “Saint wondered what it was like to lose the thing that defined you but figured she knew. It left you someone else. A stranger you had no choice but to tolerate,” and “At ten years old he realized that people were born whole and that the bad things peeled layers from the person you once were, thinning compassion and empathy and the ability to construct a future. At thirteen he knew those layers could sometimes be rebuilt when people loved you. When you loved.” How beautiful?! 

All the Colors of the Dark will definitely send readers on a rollercoaster of emotions. At times, I was on the edge of my seat, my heart racing. Other times, I was moved to tears by the profound insights into love and loss. The suspense was so gripping that my heart rate actually spiked while reading, a testament to Whitaker’s masterful storytelling. Despite the dark themes, the book is also infused with humor. It also made me feel anger. There were times I wanted to punch my iPad in the face, but thought better of it. 

All the Colors of the Dark is a must-read. It’s a book that will make readers laugh, cry, and reflect on the nature of love and hope. It’s about finding oneself amidst the chaos and learning to heal. It’s a book that includes incredible lines like “learning to love and be loved was more than could ever be expected, more than enough for a thousand ordinary lifetimes.” It’s a book about unconditional love, true friendship, beekeeping, honey, pirates, and art. It’s a book about everything. Chris Whitaker has created a literary space that is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, and I am forever grateful for the experience of living in it. I eagerly await the audiobook release to relive this journey in a different medium and hold out hope for a televised adaptation that captures the essence of this extraordinary novel.  I just can’t wait for the people I love with all my heart to read this book so I can talk to them about it!

👏🏼 FIVE STARS 👏🏼
Thank you, Crown Publishing, for the gifted copy of All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker {partner}

Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 6.25.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"You ever feel like you're living someone else's life? Paying for mistakes you don't even remember making?"

Chris Whitaker is a master storyteller. When I read his last book, We Begin at the End, I didn't think he could top the complex story, vivid images, and unique characters, but he unquestionably did. All the Colors of the Dark is one of those books you finish, set down, and then spend the next week thinking about.

I know I could never write a review that perfectly captured all the ways that make All the Colors of the Dark what it is, but just know that it's one of the most epic sagas I've read, and it is absolutely one of those books that I wish I could read again like it was the first time. I cried, laughed, sat on the edge of my seat, read quickly while holding my breath, thought about it when I wasn't reading it and longed for a happy outcome for all the characters whose lives were turned upside down in 1975. 

📝 Poetic writing
🥺 Coming-of-age
👏🏼 Short chapters that make an impact
📚 Mix of genres
💯 An absolute must-read

I highly recommend reading All the Colors of the Dark, but be prepared for it to be one of those books that stays with you long after you're finished reading.